Machine for honing camshafts



Feb. 5, 1946 C. A. GERLACH MACHINE FOR HONING CAM SHAFTS Filed April 17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5, 1946. c. A. GERLACH 2,394,433

MACHINE FOR HONING CAM SHAFTS Filed April-17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5, 1946. -c. A. GERLAQH 2,394,438

MACHINE FOR HONING CAM SHAFTS Filed April 17. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 5, 1946. c. A. GERLACH l MACHINE FOB HONING CAM SHAFTS Filed April 17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ////////Awm mmgm N w Feb; 5, 1946. c. A. GERLACH 2,394,438

MACHINE FOR HONING CAM S HAFTS Filed April 17, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /927 Z L 31 750; E23 799 a 3 L35 A 7 l1 5 Car/fir deride/7.

Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR HONING CAMSHAFTS Carl A. Gerlach, Spring Lake, Mich, assignor to Muskegcn Motor Specialties Company, Muskegon, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 17, 1944, Serial No. 531,387

16 Claims This invention relates to machines for honin cam shafts, particularly cam shafts for internal combustion engines of. the multi-cylinder type.

Cam shafts in modern internal combustion engines are usually integral structures, such as forgings or castings, on which the intake valve con trolling cams and the exhaust valve controlling cams are arranged in pairs with the cams of the pairs close together. These shafts, after the final machining operations, are usually subjected to honing of the profile surfaces of the cams or honing of shaft portions between cam pairs which are to be received in bearings for supporting the shafts in proper alignment. The general object of my invention is to produce a machine for efficiently, accurately and simultaneously honing the cam surfaces or bearing surfaces, or both.

More in detail an important object of the invention is to produce a machine comprising honing units for the respective cam surfaces and the bearing surfaces.

Another object is to provide master. cam shafts and supports on which the cam honing units are mounted t-obe operated by the cams onthe master shafts.

A further object is to produce a machine in which the cam shaft and master shafts are rotated at the same speed, and with the cam shaft subjected to axial reciprocation during rotation thereof.

Still a further object is to produce a machine in which the honing units for the ignition cams and the honing units for the exhaust cams are respectively arranged in separate planes extending through the axis of the cam shaft so that the honing elements on the intake cam honing units and the honing elements on the exhaust cam honing units may be applied to the close together intake and exhaust cams of the cam pairs on the shaft.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in which the bearing honing units are in a plane annularly displaced from the planes of the intake cam and exhaust cam honing units.

Another object is to provide separate support for the intake cam honing units, the-exhaust cam honing units, and the shaft bearing honing units, on which supports the respective units are mounted for ready adjustment into the proper position for honing engagement with the respective surfaces to be honed, whereby setting may be readily made for honing of shafts with different cam arrangement thereon.

Still a further object is to adapt the supports for the respective honing unit assemblies for movement to carry the units out of or into the honing position so that cam shafts to be honed may be readily inserted in the machine for honing and readily removed therefrom after the honing operation.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification in connection with the accompam'ing drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a left end elevation of the machine; v

Figure '2 is a front view of the machine insection on plane II-II of Figure 1;

Figure '3 is a section on plane IIIIH, Fig-- Figure 4 is an enlarged section on-plane IV--'IV,

Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on plane V-V, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sect-ion'on plane VI-NI, Figure 2;

Figures '7 and 8 are enlarged sections on plane VII--VII, Figure 1, of the left and right hand structures between which the shafts to be honed aremounted;

Figure -9 is a section on plane VIX-IX, Figure 7 Figure 10 is a sectionon plane X-X, Figure 8';

Figure 11 is an enlarged section on plane XI-XI, Figure 2, of one of the cam honing units;

Figure 12 is an enlarged section on plane XII-XII, Fig-ure 2, of one of the bearing honing units; and

Figure 13 is a section on plane XIII-XIII of Figure 12.

The supporting str-ucturefor'the cam shafts W to be honed comprises the top platesfixand fl mounted on and extending across the-side walls H and i2 of the machine supporting framework, the plates being separated bythe space H). At the left sideof the machine (Figures 2, 7 and 9) a head 13 is mounted on the plates 13 and 9 to be reciprocated longitudinally thereon,

the head being guided by guide bars M and bei held to the plates by top bars 15 which engage the feet l3 on the head. At the right side-0f the machine (Figures 8 and 10,) a head 11 is mounted on the plates for longitudinal reciprocation thereon with the guide bar 18 and top bars 19 engaging the feet 26 on the head. The two heads I3 and II are secured to and connected by side bars 21 and 22 so that the two heads may reciprocate together longitudinally on the plates 8 and 9 between the guide bars Ill, 15 and i8, i9, respectively, which bars may be sedriven through a belt 29 by an electric motor 36 a mounted on'the side Wall l2.

The front end of the shaft 21 terminates in a head3l from which extends the eccentric crank pin 32' having the cam roller '33 thereon. A bell cranklever35 is fulcrumed on a shaft 36 just inside of the side wall J2 with its horizontal leg extending outwardly through the passageway 37 in the side wall'and the bracket 25 and terminating at its tering point on a head 64 whose tapered stem 65 extends into the bore of a sleeve 66 slidable axially in the head I! but held by a key 61 against rotary movement. The outer end of the bore of the sleeve 66 is threaded to receive the threaded I end of a screw 68 which is journalled in the outer end of the head and provided with a ha'ndwheel 69. Upon turning of this handwheel 69 the sleeve 66 may be shifted axially in the head I! for engagement of the point of the centering head 64 in the centering recess 63 of the shaft to be honed -so that 'theshaft will be held in axial alignment outer end in the slot 38 which receives the cam roller 33. The vertical leg of the lever extends upwardly through the space l0 between the plates 8 and 9 and terminates in the slot 39 which re,- ceives the roller 46'on the pins 4| extending through the head [7. Thus, as the pulley 28 is rotated; the heads I! and I3 connected by the.

bars 2| and 22 will reciprocate as a unit on the plates 8 and 9 for axial reciprocation of the cam shaft supported by the heads.

Referring to Figures 7 and 9, a driving spindle 42 extends through and is journalled in the head [3 and terminates at its inner end inthe head 43. The outer end of the spindle 42extends into a housing structure 44 which is supported on a bracket 45 (Figure 1) mounted on the side wall H of the machine supporting framework. Within the housing structure 44, the spindle receives with the spindle 42.

The shafts W to be honed are shownas for six cylinder engines, "each shaft having six pairs of cams integral therewith and each pair compris-',

ing an intakevalve controlling cam I and an exhaust valve controlling cam E. For each intake cam I a honing unitHI is provided, and for each exhaust cam a honing unit HE is provided. As.

the intake and exhaust cams of each pair are quite close together, the units HI are arranged in one row and the mounting unitsI-IE are arranged in another row, with the two rows in planes at an angle with each other. As shown,

the plane of the row of mounting units III is inclined at substantially 45 from the vertical plane passing through the axis of the shaft to be honed;

while the plane of the row of the unitsHEis inclined at substantially 45 in the opposite direction from the vertical plane, see Figures 1, 3 and 4. The honing units HI are operatedby one master cam shaft MI, and the units HE are toperated by a master cam shaft ME. These master shafts and the shaft W to be honed are all my tated at the same speed, and during suchrotation the shaft W is reciprocated 'axially' for re- V ciprocation of the surfaces of the cams thereon the hub 46 of a worm gear 47, the hub being journalled in the housing but held against axial movement therein, suitable key structure 48 connecting the spindle to the hub so that the spindle must rotate with the hub but may shift axially therein. The spindle is journalled in bushing 49 and 56 held in the ends of the head l3, the

shoulder 5| on the spindle engaging the inner' bushing, and a collar 52 secured to the spindle engaging the outer bushing so that the spindle is held against axial movement in the head [3. Upon reciprocation of the head structures I3, I! on theiplates 8 and 9 by operation of the pulley 28, the outer end of the spindle moves inwardly and outwardly in the housing structure 44 and will be rotated by the gear 41. This rotation of thespindle is communicated to the cam shaft W to be honed. Detachably secured to the inner face of th spindle head 43 by its flange 53 is the chuck col-- lar 54 having a tapered bore for receiving the tapered end 55 ofthe cam shaft W. This end of relative to the honing wheels on the honing units as will be described more in detail later.

The units F1 are supported on a base plate 16 extending across the rear part of the machine and mounted at its ends on inclined bars'll and 12 supported by the rear wall 13 of the machine framework. The units HE are supported on a base plate M extending across the front part of the machine and mounted on inclined bars '55 and 1-6 supported by the front wall 11 of the machine framework. I f

Mounted on the supporting base 19 for the units H1, at the upper corners thereof, are the centering and driving head 18 for the master the cam shaft has a centering recess 56 therein 7 for receiving the centering pin 5'! seated in the tapering inner end of the spindle bore, the cam shaft being thus held in axial alignment with the spindle. 'The shaft end 55 is provided with a keyway 5'! for reception of a key 58 rotatable in the slot 59 in the chuck collar on a pin 66. The

shaft MI and the centering tail head 19 for the shaft. The arrangement within the tail head 19 is substantially like that in the tail head I! for the shaft W to be honed, turning of the. handwheel 86 controlling'the setting of the centering point 8| in the centering recess in the shaft MI. The arrangement in the drivinghead 18 may be substantially like that in the head 13 for the shaft W except that the spindle 82 has secured to its outer end a worm, gear 831 (Figure 1) 7 within the housing 84 secured to the supportkey has the upwardly extending arm 6| through which threads 'a screw 62 for abutment against the chuck collarfiange 53 so that the key may be securely seatedin the keyway 51 for communication of the rotation of the spindle 42 to the cam shaft.

' At its rightencheach cam shaft to behoned has a centering recess 63 for receiving the cening base 76. At itsinner end the spindle has 7 the chuck collar which receives the end'of the master shaft MI to be keyed thereto by a key 86 in the same manner as the shaft W is keyed v to the driving spindle '42. h 7

On the supporting base 14 forthe units HE are mounted the driving head 81 for the spindle.

88 for the master shaft ME, and a tail centering head like the tail centering head 19 for the shaft MI. The driving spindle 88 for the shaft 7 ME has secured to itsouter end the worm gear '89 located within the housing 96 supported on the base I4. The master shaft MI has the cams I thereon and the shaft is centered between its heads I8 and I9 so that these cams are in radial alignment with the cams I on the shafts W to be honed. The master shaft ME has the cams E" thereon and this shaft is centered between its heads with the cams in alignment with the cams E on the shafts W to be honed.

The driving mechanism for the master shafts and the shaft to be honed is best shown on Figures 1 and 2. A drive shaft 9! extends through the housing structure 92 which is mounted on the support 45 and of which the housing structure '44 may be an integral part, this housing structure 44 housing the driving gear 41 for the shaft to be honed. The upper end of the shaft extends through the housing portion $4 which forms part of the housing '84 for the driving gear 83 of the spindle 82 for the master shaft MI. Within the housing portion 94 the. shaft 95 mounts a worm pinion95 which meshes the gear 83, the worm pinion being held in the housing against axial movement therein.

Within the housing 92, the shaft 9! mounts a worm pinion 95 which meshes the gear 41 in the housing 44 for drive of the spindle for the shaft to be honed. Within the housing 92 the shaft SI also mounts a bevel gear 9'! which meshes the bevel gear 98 at the lower end of the shaft 99 which extends through the housing portion I09 forming part of the housing 95 in which is the gear 89 for driving the spindle 88 for the master shaft ME. Within the housing I85 is the worm pinion IIII meshing the gear 89. The lower end of the drive shaft BI is journalled in a bearing I02 on the end wall II, and the shaft is driven through a belt IE3 by an electric motor I04 mounted on the endwall SI. The gearing connection between the drive shaft 9| and the three cam shafts is such that these three shafts will be rotated at the same speed.

The honing units HI and HE are of the same construction, one of the units HI being shown on Figure 11. Each unit comprises a body I05 having the'bore H36 therethrough into which extends the plunger I8! through a bushing I08 in the upper end of the bore. The neck I09 on the plunger receives the tail frame I I B secured thereto by a pin II I. This tail frame has sliding and guide engagement with the upper portion II2 of the body I95 so that the reciprocating movement of the plunger will be guided but the frame and the plunger will be held against rotary movement.

The plunger I91 has the lower end H3 of reduced diameter between which and the plunger body is the flange portion i I4 which fits the bore m6 and between which and the bushing I58 is interposed a compression spring II5 which tends to hold the plunger inwardly in the bore. Inserted in the lower end of the bore I6 is a bushing IIB through which extends a cylindrical bar III having the bore !22 receiving the plunger end H3 and terminating above the bushing in a head H8 which fits the bore I535. The head II8 has a slot M5 for a key I2E! which is secured to the end H3 as by a screw I2I. The key 125 is of a width to fit the width of the slot H9 so that the bar ill will be held against rotational movement, but the length of the slot is such that the bar Ill may move axially relative to the plunger end II3, there being sufficient clearance between the bushing H6 and the plunger flange lI'4 for such axial movement. In the bore I22 in the bar ill a compression spring I23 is interposed between the bottom of the bore and the end N3 of the plunger Ill! and this spring tends to shift the bar II'I outwardly. In the lower end of the bar III is a diametrically extending slot I24 for receiving a honing wheel I25 supported on the pin I26. When the unit is .in service on the machine, the honing wheel I25 will be in engagement with one of the cams on the cam shaft to be honed. Figure 11 shows one of the units III with the honing Wheel in engagement with one of the intake cams I on the shaft W.

The tail frame I10 of the plunger I01 has at its upper end an arm I21 extending therefrom on which is journalled a cam roller I28 for engagemen't with a cam on one of the master cam shafts. Figure 11 shows the roller in engagement with one of the cams I on the master shaft MI. As the master shafts and the shaft to be honed rotate at the same rate, the cams on the master shafts and the plunger springs H5 will cooperate to reciprocate the plungers IIl'I for engagement of the honing wheels with the surfaces of the cams to be honed. The pressure of the springs I I5 on the flanges I I4 of the plungers II! will hold the cam rollers I28 intimately against the master shaft cams, while the springs I23 will urge the bars I I1 outwardly for the proper honing pressure engagement of the honing wheels with the respective cams to be honed.

Referring to Figures 2, 4, 5 and 11, the supporting base III for the honing units HI has the dovetail boss or rail I29 extending longitudinally thereon for receiving the recesses I39 in the loottom of the body I55 of the units, gib keys I3I set by screws I32 holding the units in position on therail. With this arrangement the unit HI may be accurately set on the supporting base It for alignment of cam rollers I28 and honing wheels I25 with the respective cams on the master shaft NH and the shaft to be honed. A similar dovetail boss or gib rail I 33 is provided on the supporting base I4 for the honing units HE for adjustment of the units relative to the master shaft ME and the shaft W to be honed. As the master shafts and the shaft to be honed are rotated, the honing wheels I25 will roll on the engaged cam surfaces under pressure of the springs I23 in the honing units, and during rotation of the shaft W it is axially reciprocated as has a1- ready been describ-ed. The extent of this axial reciprocation is such that the engaged cam surfaces will never be moved out of engagement with the respective honing wheels, and this reciprocation ofthe cam surfaces relative to the honing wheels will result'in honing abrasion of the cam surfaces by the wheels. The wheels are of emery or other suitable honing material or composition and of abrasive characteristics depending upon the honing desired. All the cams on a shaftare thus simultaneously honed to the desired degree and accuracy.

Honing units are also provided for honing the cylindrical bearing portions of the cam shafts at their ends and between the cam pairs thereon. Referring to Figures 4 and 12, each bearing honing unit HB comprises a body I34 having an extension l35 at the top thereof which has the bore I36 therethrough. Seated in this bore is the bushing I31 through which extends the cylindrical plunger I38 on whose top is supported a head I39 having a recess I40 for receiving a block I4I of honing material. A clamping plate I42 on the head serves to hold the mounting block securely seated in the recess. The outer surface of the honing block is of arouate cross section to the urge the plunger upwardly for pressure engagement of the honing block with the cam: shaft, the degree of spring. pressure being determined .bymeans of the screw 35. To hold the plunger against rotary movement, screws I58 threading in the body part I35 have key ends I i9'engaging in-the keyway I58 in the plunger, this keyway being ofsufficient length in axial direction to permit the axial movement of the plunger in the bushing I31, an adjustable stop nut I! on the threadedlower end of the plunger limiting its upper axial movement. I

area-thus. slidable'toward or away, fromkthe Referring to Figures 1 1:04, a shaft I'Iflextends between and is journalled at its ends in the intermediate walls I53and I54. Between these walls theshaft mounts a worm gear III which is engaged by a worm pinion I12 journalled in ajbearing I13 mounted on a wall I14 forming'part of the machine supporting framework. On the front wall 11' of the framework is supported a bear-v ing II5 fora shaft II6 having thehand wheel ITI 'on'its outer end and .the bevel gear I I8 on its inner end. This gear meshes with the bevel gear I79 on the shaft I80 on which the worm" pinion I12 is mounted and which meshes the worm wheel I I I. Thus upon turning of the hand wheel m the shaft no will berotated.

I The bearing honing units HB are supported on a plate I52 extending vertically downwardly below the plates 8 and 9 and between the intermediate framework walls I53 and we (Figure 2). As shown on Figures 4 and 6, angle bars I55 and I56 are secured to the intermediate walls I53 and I54 respectively against which the plate I52 engages to be held thereto by screws I5? extending through slotsl58 in'the plate. Extending forwardly from theplate I52 longitudinally thereof is the dovetail rail I58 which engages in the recesses I68 in the bottoms of the bodies I33 of the mounting units HR to be secured thereto in proper position by gib keys IEI which are set into clamping position by screws I82. The plungers of the units I-IB extend upwardly through thepassageway I8 between the plates 8 and 9. With this arrangement the units HE may be accurately set on the plate I52 for alignment of their honing blocks with the bearing surfaces to be honed between the pairs of cams on the cam shaft W.

It is desirable to facilitate the insertion into the machine of the shafts to be honed and to readily remove them from themachine after honing thereof. Provision is therefore made for withdrawing the honing units in radial direction Referring to Figure 2, the shaft IIfl mounts' at its ends the spur gears I8I and I82-which mesh respectively with gear I83 and I84. Referring to Figures 2 and 6, the gear I83 is mounted on the inner end of ashaft I85 journalled in the intermediate Wall I 54 and in a boss I88 extending from the bracket 25 on the end wall I2. Be-

tween these walls the shaft mounts a bevel gear I81. At the opposite side of the machine the gear I84 drives a bevel gear I88 onthe shaft I89 journalled in the framework walls II and I 53; q r

At its. lower corners the plate I52 has portions I88 projecting laterally outwardly through slots I9! and IIlZ in the intermediate walls I54 and I53. On these projecting ends of the plate I52 threaded bearings I93'are mounted, through each-of which extends a screw shaft I94. The screw shaft at the right side of the machine mounts at its upper end a bevel gear I95 which meshes the gear I87, An arm I 98 extending from the bracket structure 25' receives the screwrshaft for support and guidance thereof. The screw shaft at the left side of the machine extends away from the shaft after honing thereof, and V to provide ample clearance for insertion of the The supporting plates next shaft to be honed. for the honing sets or r ws are thereforemade radially shiftable with the honing units thereon. To permit radial shift of the plate I52 which supports the honing units HE, the holes I58 in the plate I52 through which the screws I57 extend are elongated vertically, and the screws'extend through the bars H53 on the front of the plate I52 so that the plate will be held by these bars against the angl 'bars i55 and I56 but will be free to be shifted vertically, the bars I33 engaging against the plate outside of the ends of the gib rail I59;

On the supporting base plate I3 for-the hon ing units HI screwreceiving bars I86 are provided to engagejthe front face of the base plate atthe ends of the gib rail I28. Screws I55 extend through the'bars and through elongated holes I88 in the base plate to thread into the supporting bars HI and i2. Likewise the bars I51 on the supporting plate'l l for the holding units HE receive screws I83 which extend through i the elongated holes I89 in the plate to thread into the supporting bars I5 and 1%. The supporting plates III and 'I ijwith the unitsthereon through a guide bearing I91 on'the intermediate wall I53 and terminates at its upper end in-the bevel gear I88 which meshes the gear I88. With the arrangement thus far described; when the handle I I I is turned for rotation of the shaft I18,

the screw shafts I94 will be turned in the bearings I93 for vertical movement of the plate I52 to bring the honing units HB on the plate into or out of honing engagement with the bearing surfaces on the shaft to be-honed. Referringto Figures '2 and 3, threaded bearings I99 are secured on the back of the support plate III for the holding units l-II. Screw shafts 208 engage in the bearings and mount at their.

lower ends the bevel gears 20I and 282.which mesh with the gears I87 and I88 respectively.

The screw shaft 288 at the left side of the machine is guided in a bearing 203 mounted on the intermediate wall I53, and a similar guide bear! ing is provided on the intermediate wall I54 for the screw shaft at the right side of the machine.

Threaded bearings 284 are secured to the back L of the supporting plate-I ifor the mounting units HEMSCIEGW shafts 205 engaging in these bear-1 ings and mounting bevel gearsZiifi at their lower ends for meshing with the bevel gears ,IB'I'and I88 respectively, these screw shafts being guided in bearing structures 20'! on the intermediate walls I53 and I54 respectively. 7 V

Referring to Figure 1, the driv shafts 9| and.

99 which are connected to drive the driving spindles for the master shafts MI and ME, have the keyways 208 and 209 respectively by which the worm pinions 95 and lill are connected to the shafts to rotate therewith. Thus, when the hand Wheel IT! i turned for rotation of the bevel gears I37 and E88 the screw shafts 290 and 205 will be turned in the bearings 199 and 284 for movement of the plates '10 and M of their supports to bring the honing wheels on the units HI and HE into or out of honing position. These supporting plates '16 and it will be moved simultaneously with the supporting plate I52 for the bearing honing units HE and thus, by manipulation of the Wheel (71 all of the honing units may be simultaneously withdrawn from the honing field to make way for the insertion into the machine of a shaft to be honed, and then the honing units will be simultaneously brought into honing engagement with the surfaces on the cam shaft. to be honed. After the honing units have been brought into honing position by manipulation of the hand wheel H1, the motors I94 and 30 are connected in circuit for rotation of the master shafts and the shaft W to be honed, and the axial reciprocation of the shaft W, th springs in the honing unit then holding the honing elements against the respective cams and bearing surfaces for simultaneously honing thereof. Referring to Figures and ll, tapered abutment plates 210 on the supporting body I05 for the honing elements HI and HE are adjustable for engagement with the tail frames Hi] on the plungers M? so that the axes of the cam rollers I28 and the axes of the honing wheels I25 will be maintained in the plane of the axis of the respective master shaft and the shaft W to be honed to thus assure uniform and prec sion honing of the various cam surfaces. The plates 2:0 are held in an adjusted position as by screws 2H which extend through elongated holes H2 in the plates.

I have thus produced a machine in which all the cam surfaces and bearing surfaces on the cam shaft may be simultaneously honed with accuracy and precision, and in which the various honing units may be readily set into honing position relative to the arrangement of the cams and bearing surfaces on the shafts to be honed.

It is of course to be understood that details of construction and arrangement may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of the invention and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A machine for honing camshafts on which the intake and exhaust cams are arranged in pairs and with the cams of the pairs close together, comprising means for sup ortin the shaft for rotation, means for sup orting for rotation a master shaft having cams thereon corresponding with the cams on the shaft to be honed, a row of honing units for the intake cams and. a support on which said units may be set into alignment with the respective intake cams, a second rOW of honing units and a support on which the units may be set for alignment with the exhaust cams, said two rows of units being in separate planes radial to the shaft to be honed but at an angle with each other,

a master cam shaft for each row of units to the and means for rotating said master shafts and the shaft to be honed at the same speed.

2. A machine for honing cam shafts on which the intake and exhaust cams are arranged in pairs and with the cams of the pairs close together, comprising means for supporting the shaft for rotation, means for supporting for rotation a master shaft having cams thereon corresponding with the cams on the shaft to be honed, a row of honing units for the intake cams and a support on which said units may be set into alignment with the respective intake cams, a second row of honing units and a support on which the units may be set for alignment with the exhaust cams, said two rows 0i units being in separate planes radial to'the shaft to be honed but at an angle with each other, a master cam shaft for each row of units to the dimensions of whose cams the respective cams are to be honed by the units, plungers in said units carrying at their inner ends honing elements for engagement with the cams to be honed and at their outer ends having cam rollers for engagement by the cams on the respective master shafts, and means for rotating said master shafts and the shaft to be honed at the same speed, and means for axially reciprocating theshaft to be honed.

3. A machine for honing cam shafts on which intake and exhaust cams are arranged and spaced apart in pairs with the cams of each pair close together, comprising means for supporting for rotation a shaft to be honed, a row of intake cam honing units and a support therefor on which said units may be aligned with the cams to be honed, a master cam shaft mounted on said support for rotation and having cams thereon in alignment with the intake cams to be honed, a

surface to be honed and having a cam roller at its outer end for engagement by the corresponding cam on the corresponding master cam shaft, said supports being at an angle with each other to support the units thereon with their plungers in planes extending through the axis of the shaft to be honed, means for rotating said master shafts and the shaft to be honed at the same speed whereby the cams on the master shafts will control the reciprocation of said plungers for engagement of the honing elements with the respective cam surfaces, and means for simultaneously shifting said supports in their planes for Withdrawal of the honing elements of the honing units away from the honing zone or for return thereof into the honing zone whereby a shaft to be honed may be readily inserted into the machine for honing or withdrawn from the machine after the honing operation.

4. A machine for honing cam shafts on which intake and exhaust cams are arranged and spaced apart in pairs with the cams of each pair close together, comprising means for supporting for rotation a shaft to be honed, a row of intake cam honing units and a support therefor on which said units may be aligned with the cams to be honed, a master cam shaft mounted on said sup-.- port for rotation and having cams thereon i alignment with the intake cams to be honed, a

the machine for honing and removed from machine after the honingoperation. 7

. row of exhaust cam honing units and "a support on which said units maybeset in alignment with the exhaust cams to be honed; a master cam shaft supported for rotation on the support for said exhaust cam honing units and having cams thereon in alignment with the exhaust cams to be honed, each of the units on said supports hav shafts I will control the, reciprocation. of said plungers for engagement of the honing elements with the respectivecam surfaces,a third set of honing units for honing bearing surfaces on the shaftbe'tween campairs thereon, a support for saidbearing honing units. on which they may be set into' alignment with the bearing surfaces to be honed, each of said bearing honing units comprising a plunger with a honing element thereon and spring means tending to shift the plunger forengagement of the honing element with the a surface to be honed, and means for simultaneouslyshifting said three supports with the honing units thereon away from-the honing zone where- :by a shaft to be honed may be readily applied in the an machine for honingcam shafts comprising asupporting frame,-means on said frame for centering a shaft to be honed, aplurality of rows of honing units in radial planes extending throughthe axis of the shaft to be honed, sup,-

ports for said rows of honing units on which the unitsmay be setifor alignment with the respective surfaces on the shaft to be honed thereby,

means for rotating theshaft, means controlling the application of said units to the respective surfaces to be honed thereby, said supports being shiftable in planes parallel with the planes of therows of honing units supported thereon and means for simultaneouslyshifting said supports in their respective planes to carry the units thereoniaway from or into honing position whereby a shaft may readily be inserted for honing or removal after the honing operation. 7

6. Amachine for the purpose described having a supportin'g frame, means on said frame for centering and rotating a cam shaftto be honed, a-first support and honing units thereon for honing some of the cams on the shaft, a second support andihoning uni-ts thereon for honing other cams on said shaft;athird'support'and honing units thereon for honing bearing surfaces on the shaft between the cams thereon, and means foresiniultaneou'sly shifting said supports on said 7 frame to move the honing units thereon away a from or into honing position; In-a machine for the purpose described, a a V supporting framework, means on said'frameworkshifting said supports on said framework for ,movement of said rows of honing units in their I respective planes to carry their honing elements into or out of engagement with the respective surfaces on the shaft to be honed.

' 8. In a machine. for the purpose described, a V

supporting framework, opposed centering heads on said framework between which a shaft to be honed is centered for'rotation, a supporting plate on said framework having a supporting rail thereon extending parallel with the shaft, a row of honing units mounted on said rail, each unit having a plunger therein supporting at one end a honing element andv a spring tending .tohold said plunger-with its honing element against the surface on the shaft. to be honed thereby, said units being individually adjustable on said rail for alignment of their honing elements with the .particular surfaces on thefshaft to be honed thereby, and means for limitingthe movement of the unit plungers -byj their respective springs,

said supporting plate being shiftable on" said a framework, a screw shaftstructure connecting said plate with'said supportingframeworkjand means for turning said screw shaft'structure for A shift of said plate. to carry the units thereon into or out of honing position. I I V 9. In a. machine for the purpose described, a

- supporting framework, means on said framework V a second row of honing units for'the'exhaust cams and asupport on which the units are mounted,

, honed at the same time.

for centering for rotation a'shaft to be honed, f

means'for rotating said shaft, a plurality of rows ofhoning units arranged in planes extending radially relative to the axis of said shaft, each honing unitsupporting a honing element for honing engagement with a surface tov be honed;

. on-the shaft, separate supports on said framework for saidrows of honing units,and means for a for supporting and centering a shaft to be honed; meansfor rotating. said shaft, a plurality of rows of honing units in planes extending through the axis of the shaft, a supporting plate for each row of honing units, said supporting plates being I shiftable on said framework, screw shaft struc-.

tures between said. supporting 'platesand said framework,and means for effecting simultaneous rotation of said screw shaft structures for'simultaneous movement ofisaid supporting plates to.

carry the .honingunits thereon into or out'cf honing position. A

10. A machine for honing cam shafts on which 7' intake and: exhaust cams are arranged in pairs and'with theicams of the'pairs close together, 7

comprising means for supporting a shaftffor rotation, arow of honing units for the intakeicams and'a support on which said units are mounted,

saidtwo rows of units being in separate planes radial to the shaft to be honed but at an angle with each other whereby 11. A machine for honing cam shafts on'which intake and exhaustcams-are arranged in pairs with; the camsof the pairs. close together and a with shaft bearing surfaces between the pairs,

comprising means for supporting a shaft for ro--. I tation, a row of honing units for the intake cams' andasupport for said'unitsfla second row of honing units for theexhaust cams and a support for said units, and a third row' of honing units for .the bearing surfaces and a support for said units, said -.three rows being, in separate planes radial to the shaft to behoned but at an angle with each other whereby all said cams and bearing surfacesmay be honed at the sametime; ,t 12. A machine for honingcam shafts on which 1 intake and exhaust cams are arranged in pairs 1 V with the cams of the pairs close togetherand withshaft bearing surfaces between the pairs,

comprising means for supporting'a shaft fofroa,

tation, a row of honing units for the intake cams and a'support for said units, a second row of V j all said cams may "behoning units for the exhaust cams and a support for said units, a third row of honing units for the bearing surfaces and a support for said units, said three rows being in separate planes radial to the shaft to be honed but at an angle with each other whereby all said cams and bearing surfaces may be honed at the same time, and means for moving said three supports for radial shifting of the rows of units thereon into or out of honing engagement with said cams and bearing surfaces.

13. A machine for honing cam shafts comprising a supporting table, a head stock and a tail stock mounted on said table for supporting a cam shaft to be rotated, two supports on said table extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom at an angle therewith and at opposite sides of the shaft to be honed, a row of honing units mounted on one of said supports for honing engagement with some of the cams on the cam shaft and, another row of honing units on said other support for honing engagement with other cams on the cam shaft.

14. A machine for honing cam shafts comprising a supporting table, a head stock and a tail stock mounted on said table for supporting a camshaft to be rotated, two supports on said table extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom at an angle therewith and at opposite sides of the shaft to be honed, a row of honing units mounted on one of said supports for honing engagement with some of the cams on the cam shaft, another row of honing units on said other support for honing engagement with other cams on the cam shaft, a third support below said table and a row of honing units thereon projecting upwardly through said table for honing engagement with bearing surfaces between cams on said shaft.

15. In a machine for honing cam shafts, a supporting framework, a table on said framework, guides extending upwardly and outwardly from said table at opposite sides thereof, supporting means on said table between said guides for the cam shaft to be honed, supports slidable on said guideways, a row of honing units on one of said supports for honing some of the cams on said camshaft and a row of honing units on said other support for honing other cams on the cam shaft, means for sliding said support on said guides for movement of said rows of units in directions radial to the shaft to be honed for movement of said units into or out of honing engagement with the respective cams on the shaft.

16. In a machine for the purpose described, supporting framework for a shaft to be honed, a plurality of rows of honing units spaced around the shaft, a support for each row of honing units, said supports being movable for carrying the units thereon in directions radial 'of the shaft into or out of honing position, screw shaft structure between said framework and each of said supports, a drive shaft having gearing connection with said screw structure shaft, and means for operating and drive shaft for simultaneous movement of said supports for carrying the honing units thereon into or out of honing position.

CARL A. GERLACH. 

